Strap wrench



April 9, 1957 w. L, HAMMER 2,787,924

STRAP WRENCH Filed DSC. 23, 1953 INV TOR. W//}5/7/'Leehapmef nite This invention relates to strap wrenches and more particularly to the type adapted for household use to facilitate the opening or closing of sealed threaded capped containers.

While numerous forms of wrenches are now in cornmon use for opening and closing sealed threaded capped containers, the vast majority ofthese devices are not readily adaptable for use on the wide variety of sizes of sealed threaded capped containers found in todays households. Many of these jar wrenches are designed for use only on a single sized jar. Other similar devices which are adjustable for use in conjunction with various sized containers are either complex in form or require considerable dexterity in their handling to render them capable of eifecting Athe desired results. Practically all jar wrenches are formed of metal and thus afford only a metal-to-metal contact with the threaded container cap to provide the gripping action to render them effective in use. I

The primary object of the present invention resides in the provision of a new and improved strap wrench which will overcome the inherent defects of previously designed jar wrenches now in common use.

Another object of the present invention resides in the provision of a new and improved strap wrench which is simple in construction, effective in operation, and inexpensive to manufacture.

Another' object of the present invention resides in the provision of a new and improved ystrap wrench comprising the combination of a keeper formed of rigid material and a flexible strap element in the form of a noose which is adjustable in size to afford a metal-free gripping contact with the screw threaded container cap.

Another object of the present invention resides in the provision of a new and improved strap wrench including a keeper formed of rigid material and a flexible nonmetallic strap element having one end secured to the keeper and having its free end passing through the keeper so that its intermediate portion forms a noose which is adjustable in size to conform to the size of the screw threaded cap when the noose is drawn tightly around the same. f

Another object of the invention resides in the utilization of the keeper as a means by which the noose of the exible strap is drawn taut and its gripping action upon the screw threaded cap is increased with the increased tension and swinging movement applied to the free end of the strap.

Another object of the invention resides in the formation of the keeper which turns under the influence 'of tension and swinging movement of the free Vend of the exible strap element to increase the gripping action of the noose on the container cap to facilitate the eiectiveness of the strap wrench in opening or closing the sealed provision of v'a keeper formed of rigid material and contates Patent O structed in a manner to provide suitable anchorage for one end of the exible strap and also provide a medium by which the application of swinging tension to the free end of the strap effects a turning action of the keeper to increase the gripping action of the flexible strap on the cap and materially increase the turning force applied to the wrench under the tension exerted on the freeend of the exible strap.

Other objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following description of an illustrative embodiment thereof.

In the drawing:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a strap wrench, constructed in accordance with the teachings of the present invention, showing the application of the strap wrench to the threaded closure of a container; l

Fig. 2 is a top plan view, of Figure l showing an intermediate, or tensioning stage, position of the strap wrench;

Fig. 3 is a View similar to Fig. 2 showing another intermediate tensioning position of the strap wrench;

Fig. 4 is a view similar to Fig. 2 Showing the final position of the strap wrench and illustrating the increased gripping force of the strap on the threaded closure obtained through the turning movement of the keepel' resulting from the swinging tensioning movement of the free end of the flexible strap through the successive positions indicated in the previously described ligures of the drawing; and

Fig. 5 is a perspective view of the strap keeper which forms the fulcrum and tensioning means for increasing the gripping action of the strap wrench to facilitate the selective sealing or unsealing of the container upon the application of increased tension by the swinging and jerking movement of the free end of the flexible strap.

The strap wrench, constructed in accordance with the teachings of the present invention and illustrated in the accompanying drawing, comprises a fiexible strap member iii, preferably formed of non-metallic material such as leather or woven fabric. One end 11 of the iiexible strap member 16 is attached to a keeper element-12 by passing the same through an appropriate opening or openings 13 formed in the member l2 and folding the end 11 of the strap back upon the body of the strap and suitably securing the samev to the body of the strap by any appropriate means such as stitching or a rivet, the other extremity 14 of the strap is then passed through the opening or openings 13 in the keeper 12 to cooperate therewith to forrn a noose adapted upon adjustment to be applied to the peripheral surface of a screw threaded cap 15 to be applied to or removed from a jar or container 16. A suitable handle 17 is attached to the free end 14 of the strap 1i) in any approved manner such as the formation of a loop adjacent the free end of the strap either applied to or around the handle 17. The free end 14 of the strap is secured to the body portion thereof in any suitable manner such as by Stitchingl.

The keeper 12 comprises a member formed of rigid material such as strap metal bent in a manner to provide a structure which will serve both as an anchoring means for the attached end i1 of the tlexible strap 1t! and a means which turns under swinging tensional movement of the free end of the exible strap it) to engage the outer surface of the noose portion of the flexible strap andform a fulcrum 19 on which the keeper 12 turns.

Referring more particularly to Fig. 2, it will be noted that the initial turning movement of the keeper 12 on its fulcrum 19 under the influence of swinging tensional movement of the free end 14 of the flexible strap 10 results in the outwardly swinging movement of the attached .end 11 of the exible strap 10 away fromthe peripheral surface" of the screw cap 15 to thus apply tension on the offenem noose and additional gripping pressure between the inner surface of the noose and the peripheral surface of the screw threaded cap 15.

Referring more particularly to Fig. 3 of the accompanying drawing, it will be noted that further swinging tensional pull on the free end 14 of the exible strap 1d will result in further turning movement of the member' 12 on a surface 2t) disposed adjacent the fulcrum 19 and contacting the outer surface of the noose portion of the flexible strap 10 to further increase the tension on the noose and the gripping action of the inner surface of the noose upon the peripheral surface of the screw threaded cap 15 and take up any remaining slack or stretch in the noose portion of the strap 10.

The relative position of the noose portion of the strap 10 and the keeper member 12 shown in Fig. i represents the nal position of the cooperating parts of the strap wrench wherein the maximum Itension and gripping pressure of the noose portion of the flexible strap 19 has been reached through the maximum stretching of tA e noose portion of the flexible strap 1l). It shouid also be noted that the fulcium line about which the keeper i2 is now turning has moved along the surface Ztl of the keeper 12. to a fulcrum 21 located at the end of the surface 2t! which is remote from the fulcrum 19. With the keeper 12` in the last named position, additional gripping force exerted by the strap wrench upon the screw threaded cap 15 is increased by the swinging and jerking movement of the handie 17 to initiate relative rotating movement between the jar or container 16 and screw threaded cap 15 to effect the loosening or unsealing of the container.

While the foregoing description has been directed primarily to the loosening or unsealng of a threaded cap .15 .from a jar or container 16, it is to be understood that by the simple reversal of the strap wrench and the following of the identical procedure in the reverse direction will elfect the tightening of the screw threaded cap 15 on the container 1.6 to cause the same to be sealed.

lt should also be noted at this time that the strap wrench of the present invention is constructed in such a manner that the gripping action of. the noose portion of the flexible strap 10 is devoid of metal Contact and thus insures a more positive gripping action than would bc possible with metal contact between the wrench and the peripheral surface of the screw threaded cap i5.

Referring more particularly to Fig. 5 of the accompanying drawing, it will be noted that i have therein shown a keeper member 12 formed of strap metal bent in a manner to provide the desired operational characteristics for Ithis portion of the strap wrench. it is to be understood, however, that this particular' form of keeper is chosen for illustrative purposes only and it is to be understood that the material and particular form of the keeper may be widely varied and still be capable of effecting the desired result.

One of the fundamental concepts of the present invention is predicated upon the idea of providing a keeper which turns under swinging tensional movement of the free end 1 4 of the strap 1t? to simultaneously effect the application of gripping pressure on the outer surface of the noose portion of the flexible strap 10 and by its turning movement about the line of pressure between the keeper and outer surface of the noose portion of the tiexible strap 10 effect the stretching and increased gripping pressure of the noose portion of the strap 10 on the peripheral surface of the screw threaded cap 15. The turning movement of the keeper 12 serves the additional function, of effectively increasing the tension on the noose portion of the strap 16 to greatly facilitate either the loosening or tightening of the screw cap 15 upon the jar or container 16.

ln the application `and use of the present `strap wrench, it is to be understood that the jar or container4 16 is securely gripped in one hand and a tensioning force is applied to the handle 17 of the strap wrench with the other hand. In this manner it is possible to apply sufficient force to readily effect the relative movement between the screw cap 15 and the jar .16 :to selectively seal or unscal the container.

From the foregoing detailed description of the present invention, it will readily be understood that a simple inexpensive and effective strap wrench has been provided which affords a non-metallic gripping contact of the peripheral surface of any screw capped container regardless of its diameter by reason of the ready adjustable size or' the cap gripping noose portion of the device.

While the invention has been described in considerable detail in the foregoing specification, it is to be understood that various changes may be made in its embodiment without departing from or sacrificing any of the advantages hereinafter claimed.

l claim:

l. A strap wrench comprising a rigid keeper and a non-metallic llexible strap member having limited elasticity, said keeper including a body portion of polygonal form to which one end of said exible strap is attached, said body portion having an opening through which thc intermediate portion of said strap projects to form an adjustable noose for application to the peripheral surface of a screw threaded member and a projecting portion engageable with the outer surface of said flexible strap, the free end of said projecting portion forming a fulcrum surface on which said keeper turns, the free end of said strap forming a tension applying medium serving to adjust ythe noose into circumferential gripping contact with the screw threaded member and lateral swinging movement in one direction of said tensioned strap serving to effect the turning movement of said keeper on said strap to increase the gripping force on said noose upon the threaded member to effect non-slip relative rotary movement thereof with respect to a containeron which the same is positioned.

2. A strap wrench comprising a rigid keeper and a non-metallic tiexible strap member having some elasticity, said keeper including a polygonal body portion to which one end of said flexible strap is attached, said body portion having an opening in said polygonal body portion through which the intermediate portion of said strap is passed to form an adjustable noose for application to the peripheral surface of a screw threaded member, and a projection formed on said keeper by extending one side of said polygonal body portion. to form a fulcrum surface on which said keeper turns, said fulcrum surface engaging the outer surface of said tiexible strap, the free end of said flexible strap forming a tension applying medium serving to draw said adjustable noose into circumferentialV surface Contact with the screw threaded member, and llateral swinging movement in one direction of the tensioned free end of said exible strap serving to turn said keeper on its fulcrum to thereby increase the gripping force of said noose on the screw threaded member and effect non-slip relative rotary movement between the screw threaded member and 'the container on which it is positioned.

3. A strap wrench comprising a rigid keeper and a nonmetallic flexible strap member having some elasticity, said keeper comprising a metal strap bent into polygonal form including a body portion to which one end of said tlexible strap is secured, said body portion having an opening through which the intermediate portion of said flexible strap is passed to form an adjustable noose for application to the; peripheral surface of a screw threaded member, and a projecting arm on said keeper to engage the outer surface `of said exible strap, the end of said arm forming a fulcrum surface on which said keeper turns, the free end of said flexible strap forming a tension applying medium and serving to adjust the noose into circumferential gripping contact with the screw threaded cap, and lateral swinging movement of said tensioned exible strap in one direction serving to effect the turning movement of said keeper on its fuicrum arm whereby an increased gripping force is exerted upon the References Cited in the iile of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Gaw June 3, 1924 Jenkins Aug. 26, 1930 Stegmeier Mar. 5, 1940 Escher Nov. 20, 1945 

